Mail-bag fastener



(No Model.)

F. LANGLG'I'Z.

. MAIL BAG PASTBNER.

10.572,763. Patented 1360.8, 1896.4V

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mi wams niks co, Pnomgf'mu, wAsHmnYoN D c UNITED STATES FREDERICK LANGLCTZ,

PATENT CEFICEA.

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,763, dated December 8, 1896.

Application tiled March 2 S, 1 8 9 6.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LANGLOTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Mail- Bag Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in l mail-bag fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of mail-bag fasteners, and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be positive and reliable in operation and capable of being conveniently handled, and in which the locking mechanism cannot become separated or lost from the bag.

The invention consists inthe construction andfnovel combination and .arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a mail bag or pouch provided with a fastener constructed in accordance with this invention, the mail bag or pouch being open. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, the bag being closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the locking mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the lock-casing. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the locking-bar.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a mail bag or pouch provided at one side of its mouth with a iiap 2, and having at the same side of the mouth a series of rigidly-mounted staples or keepers 3, adapted to extend through slotsor openings 4 of the opposite side of the mouth of the bag when the latter is closed, and to be engaged by a 4locking device of the iiap 2 when the latter is folded over the month of the bag, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings. VThe staples 3 are mounted on metal bars 6, arranged at opposite sides of the bag or pouch, and suitably connected with the Serial No. 585.261. (No model.)

faces of the bag and suitably secured tothe same, and the fiap folds over and conceals the upper edges of the mouth of the bag.

The locking device, which is secured by any suitable fastening devices to the end ofthe flap, comprises a suitable casing 8, provided with a longitudinal way 9,in which isarranged a sliding spring-actuated bar carrying a series 6o of L-shaped arms or bolts adapted to engage and interlock with the staples or keepers 3. The L-shaped arms or bolts have the outer faces of their engaging portions beveled, and are located adjacent to the transverse slots or openings ll of the lock-casing, and when the staples or keepers are introduced therein they are adapted to engage the beveled portions of the L-shaped. arms or bolts, and to move the same laterally of the slots against 7o the action of the spring 12 of the locking-bar, whereby the bag is automatically locked when the flap is closed or folded over the mouth of the bag. The lock-casing is provided at one end of the side, which is secured to the iiap of a keyhole 13, which is adapted to receive a key 14 for engaging a head l5 of the adja- Y cent end of the locking-bar, whereby the latter is moved backward against the action of the spring l2 to release the staples or keepers, 8o and the spring vl2, which may be of any desired construction, is located at the other end of the locking-bar, and one or more springs may be employed, if necessary, forholding the locking-bar in engagement with the keepers or staples and to provide a positive and reliable spring-lock. The way 9 is provided at opposite sides with longitudinal iianges receiving the side edges of the locking-bar. The lock-Casin g may, at the keyhole, be con- 9o structed in any suitable manner to prevent the locking-bar from being actuated by any key except the particular one designed to opcrate it. l

AThe bag or pouch is provided with suitable handles, and the flap 2 forms a suitable support for a handle 16.

It will be seen that the bag-fastener is eX- ceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction and positive and reliable in operation, Ioo that it will enable bags to be conveniently and rapidly handled, and that the locking mechanism cannot become separated from the bag or pouch.

Changes in the forni, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriicing any of the advantages of this invention.

lVhat I claim is-- In a device of the class described, the combination of a bag provided at one side of its mouth with a flap, and havin g a series of slots or openings at the opposite side of the mouth, a series of staples or keepers mounted on the inner face of the bag adjacent to the inner end of the flap and adapted to project through the slots or openings at the opposite sides of the bag, and a lock mounted on the inner face of the flap at the outer end thereof, whereby it is concealed Within the bag and protected when the flap is folded, said lock comprising a casing provided at one end with a keyhole,

FREDERICK LANGLOTZ.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE ToMKINs, JAKE TIERNEY. 

